Florida

Specialty Care Visits

Nemours offers a multispecialty group practice (including pediatric orthopedics, pediatric hematology/oncology, pediatric endocrinology) that cares for babies, children, and teens from across the United States and around the world. We make advanced pediatric specialty care convenient and accessible at outpatient locations in four states: Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida.

New Jersey

Overnight Stays

When you know ahead of time your child will have an overnight, or inpatient, hospital visit, being prepared can help ease some of the anxiety.

Here are a few helpful tips:

Take time to understand everything you can about your child’s condition, and talk to your doctor about specific tests and procedures your child may have.

Tell your child age-appropriate details about why an overnight hospital stay is required, and how he or she might feel during and after a test or procedure.

Discuss the other patients your child may meet, some who may be very ill.

Talk about caregiver roles, including the different kinds of physicians your child might meet, nurses’ duties and other specialists who could be part of your hospital care team.

Don’t forget to care for yourself. Children look to adults for reassurance, and when we’re calm and confident, they will be, too. Get more specific information about your visit at your Nemours pediatric hospital location.

What to Pack

Teaching hospitals offer patients the highest quality of care with the most up-to-date treatments available. Because our hospitals and some of our collaborating hospitals serve as teaching hospitals, your child’s care team includes attending physicians and physicians-in-training.

This means you’ll see more care providers during daily morning “rounds.” This is typically a time for your medical team to go over your child’s care — discussing treatment plans and getting updates from the nursing staff. This is a great time for you to ask questions, address concerns and offer input.

Family-Centered Rounds

Family-centered rounds are a big part of the Nemours commitment to family-centered care. It’s a program that actively includes our patients and families in team rounds, making you part of the entire care conversation and medical decision-making. Ask your care team how you can get involved.

What to Expect in Emergencies

Our emergency departments (or ED) are fully-equipped to handle a variety of pediatric emergencies for children from birth to age 18, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

We want you to feel comfortable while you’re here so please, don’t hesitate to tell us what you need, ask questions or provide input at any time during your stay. In the meantime, here’s what you can expect:

When You Arrive

A triage nurse will greet you and assess your child’s condition, quickly deciding whether you need main ED services or Fast Track Urgent Care. Tell the nurse if your primary care physician referred you to the ED and whether you need interpreter services.

After Triage

You'll complete all of the necessary paper work (insurance confirmation, Consent for Treatment, HIPAA Privacy forms, etc.). If an examination room is ready, we’ll register your child at the bedside.

If There’s a Wait

We’ll give you a pager to alert you when it’s your child’s turn to be seen. Please stay inside the hospital, no further than the vending area, so you don’t miss your page. And please let us know if your child’s condition changes at any time. We have fun activities to keep your child occupied during the wait. While we do our best to move quickly, remember that we must see children in order of medical need, not arrival.

In the Exam Room

Your physician will evaluate your child’s needs and order appropriate tests and treatments. To pass the time, we have bedside touch-screen computers featuring kid-friendly entertainment and interactive videos illustrating certain tests and procedures. You can also request to see a Child Life Specialist who can answer your questions, provide support and offer appropriate play activities to help your child overcome anxiety.

If Tests Are Needed

There’s a medical imaging (radiology) room within the ED allowing your child to have X-rays or other imaging tests (like CAT scans or MRIs) taken quickly and efficiently. A number of rapid tests can be performed in the ED while others are sent to the main laboratory. And access to consultation with physicians in all pediatric medical and surgical subspecialties is readily available if and when we need it.

After Your Visit

After Your Exam & Appropriate Treatment

We’ll discharge your child for home. If more testing or observation is necessary, your child will be moved to an ED observation room for up to 24 hours. If your child needs to stay overnight, you will be admitted to the hospital and moved into an inpatient room on the second or third floor. Your primary care or referring physician will be continuously updated through our electronic medical record system, by phone and/or by fax.

Several Days After Your Visit

Expect a patient satisfaction survey to come in the mail. We’d appreciate your honest feedback — the good and not so good — so we can make our patient experience even better.

Helpful Information

For more information about preparing for an emergency visit, check out these articles from KidsHealth.org.